Cactus Codex

Pony blogger, actual cactus, artist, writer, computer scientist, and linguist. New Jersey / Pennsylvania | 21 | male, he/him/his | asexual hispanic | Cereus repandus, or Peruvian apple cactus

Also, for something completely unrelated to ponies...where were you on 9/11?

Asked by Anonymous

Uhhhhhhh let’s see.

T'was a Tuesday, correct?

So I should’ve been in day-care.

But I remember being home with a bunch of other family members watching CNN on the big screen TV when the first tower collapsed.

I dunno, man. I was 4.

For as much as you seem to like shipping, I'm surprised you would drop anything involving Spike, given what a romantic he is. Are ships with him just too overdone in your opinion? Or are you holding out for the time when Rarity finally returns his feelings? ('cause that's never, ever going to happen :P)

Asked by Anonymous

Spike isn’t exactly my favorite character. Of course, he has his moments, but I’m just not fond of him entirely.

SpikeBelle is the only ship I can get behind, mostly because of PC. RariSpike is pretty damn close to canon, so I don’t feel the need to ship them in a fanon context.

And when I’m not fond of anyone, I tend to not ship him or her with anyone else.

Which is why all my OTPs are either main characters or background characters of whom I’ve spent countless hours writing/revising personalities and biographies for. ’~’

You used to like shipping Spike with Apple Bloom, right? What happened? (Was it that shot of him and Sweetie Belle at the wedding?)

Asked by Anonymous

That is correct. PC’s failed progeny actually had SpikeBloom as a focal point. But I fell out of favor with Spike ships in general after PC started. You can still see the remnants of it, though.

Is your tablet working or is it fried?

Asked by Anonymous

Ah yes, I forgot about that.

Yep, the tablet’s safe. o3o

Any advice for anyone thinking of starting an ask blog?

Asked by nickname-livestream
  • Familiarize yourself with the character(s). Pretend you’re them, write short stories or biographies about them, or draw them doing their favorite (or least favorite) things.
  • (For Story Blogs): Organize and plan out as much as you can. Consistency is key.
  • Practice drawing. The effect of an ask blog depends on a balance of good content, and pleasing visuals. (By starting a blog, however, you’re automatically dedicating yourself to improving art with every post)
  • The blog is for blog stuff only. No one likes a constant stream of reblogs and irrelevant posts instead of actual content.
  • Be flexible. Out of ideas? Invoke a story arc. Apply a magic anon. Ask a friend to crossover, perhaps.
  • Have fun. If you start a blog and you’re not having fun with drawing for it, writing for it, or socializing with some of its readers, then you’re doing it wrong.

So, just how many OTPs do you have?

Asked by Anonymous
  • Twidash
  • Raridash (blame Diaries)
  • Rumbleloo
  • Scootabelle
  • Flutterdash (to an extent)

So that’s five.

What made you enjoy shipping Rumble and Scootaloo, anyway? Was it just that they were both pegasi who lived in Ponyville? I would ask if someone else's work had influenced you in liking that ship, but as far as I can tell, you were one of the very first people to ship them.

Asked by Anonymous

It first started as a joke.

I needed a second pegasus character for the fourth PC (Revision 1) comic to make a shipping joke. Initially, I was gonna go with Featherweight, since “Ponyville Confidential” just aired. But Rumble from the previous episode stuck out more for me.

Really, I wasn’t supposed to bring him to main character status but then I started writing in more of him and then shipping-mentality (and the Hospital arc) happened.

And yes, the fact that I’m one of the first Rumbleloo shippers is bit of a bragging right I gave myself. According to DeviantArt, I am the first person to draw them shipped together, predating the second person by 3 days.

image

Damn it, I was going to go to bed and then you promised a PC update. Post it please :C

Asked by Anonymous

I can’t post it now, dear anon. It’s not done yet.

And I’m afraid that it won’t be done until past midnight. :c

Will all those ponies have significant roles (big enough to match their backstories) in the story or do you just like worldbuilding?

Asked by Anonymous

It’s a bit of both.

Most of them have a rather significant role in the coming chapters. But really, I just like writing this kind of stuff.

Any particular opinions on anthro ponies? I ask since I recently noticed you liking/responding to some stuff on Ambris's blog (Needs More Pony), and he's gotten fairly well-known for his anthro pictures. Somehow I feel like your style could lend itself really well to anthro, but I understand if you prefer drawing regular ponies.

Asked by Anonymous

It all depends.

I’m a massively picky person. More so when it comes to anthro ponies. Generally, I do like it! 

However, I don’t believe that my art style is fit for anthro. It’d look too weird, IMO.

Also, I can’t draw hands for shit.